Gerry Gannon facts for kids

Gerry Gannon is a well-known Irish builder and property developer who has been building homes and other properties since the 1980s. He was a very important figure in Ireland's construction world, especially in the years before the Irish property bubble burst.

A property developer is someone who buys land and builds things like houses, apartments, or shopping centers on it. Gannon was involved in some of the biggest building projects in Ireland. He was also a key person in the Anglo Irish Bank hidden loans controversy, which was part of what led to the post-2008 Irish banking crisis.

Gannon is most famous for building large new neighborhoods with many houses and apartments. He built a lot in North County Dublin, especially around the Malahide Marina in the 1990s. Later, in the 2000s, he built major developments in areas like Belcamp and Clongriffin.

Sometimes, people in the Irish media have called him "the man in the hat."

Early Life and Career

Gerry Gannon is originally from County Roscommon. He is married to Margaret, and they have a family.

Gannon began his career as a builder in the 1980s. He first worked in London for his father's construction company. When he returned to Ireland, he started his own very successful building business.

For many years, Gannon co-owned the famous Kildare Hotel and Golf Club, also known as the K Club, with businessman Michael Smurfit. In 2012, Smurfit bought Gannon's share of the resort.

Major Building Projects

Gannon's companies have built thousands of homes across Ireland, especially in the Dublin area.

Building New Communities

In the late 1980s, Gannon's company planned one of the largest housing projects of its time near Swords, County Dublin. The plan was to build over 700 houses.

In the 1990s, his company, Gannon Homes, started another huge project on the Malahide Road. This plan included over 900 houses, a shopping center, a pub, and a library. These projects helped create new communities for many families.

Other Properties

Besides houses, Gannon has also owned large commercial buildings. For several years, he owned the Ericsson technology building in Athlone, County Westmeath. In 2017, it was reported that the building would be put up for sale.

The "Maple 10" Investors

Gannon was part of a group of ten Irish investors known as the 'Maple 10'. This group was also sometimes called the 'Anglo 10' or the 'Golden Circle'. The group was formed to help support Anglo Irish Bank during a difficult financial time.

The other members of the Maple 10 were Jackson O'Sullivan, John McCabe, Paddy McKillen, Jerry Conlan, Joe O’Reilly, Patrick Kearney, Brian O’Farrell, Gerry Maguire, and Sean Reilly.